Fire hose rack



Mam 26,1945

J. N. scHlHTEL.

FIRE HOSE RACK Filed Aug. 29, 1944 IN V EN TOR.

All!

M2/L! TTQ NEX.

Patented Mar. 26, 1946 lUNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE 2,397,293 FIRE HOSE RACK John N. Schichtel, San Gabriel, Calif. Application August 29, 1944, Serial No. 551,718

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to hose supporting devices and more particularly, has to do with those racks for supporting folded linen fire hose.

In many of the hose racks in use today, the hose is generally supported on pins extending from one arm of the frame to the other. The upper portions of the folds of the hose are usually looped over the pinsv extending from one arm of the frame to the other in such manner that a pull on the free or nozzle end oi the hose permits the hose to be paid out from the rack to the point of use. Some of the prior types of hose racks are so constructed that a simple spreading of the arms of the frame allows the entire hose to fall out of the rack together with all of the pins with the result that the hose becomes entangled and some of the pins are lost. To avoid loss of pins, some hose rack manufacturers hinge one end of the pins on one of the arms of the frame and allow the other ends to be supported by the other arm. Many other improvements have been made on these types of hose racks but all depend upon looping the folds of the hose over the pins'in order to support the hose. One great disadvantage of this type of hose rack resides in the great inconvenience in carefully placing the hose in the rack. Another disadvantage resides in the fact that the least jarring or twisting of the hose in the rack by meddlers results in the complete removal of the banded hose from the rack. This is particularly true when the hose is soft due to use or age. Another disadvantage is the entanglement of the hose when pulled out of the rack and one of the greatest disadvantages resides in the fact that the operator must completely pay-out the hose from the rack before it is possible to turn on the water.

It is thus a primary object of my invention to provide a rack for supporting folded linen hose which comprises few and simple parts, which is not likely to get out of order, from which the linen hose may be readily and instantly detached without danger of becoming entangled,

'oi the hose.

position when anyone meddles with the hose or i necessity of removing the frame from its supporting nipple.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hose -rack which will permit the Water to be turned on when the hose is in' place-in the rack without danger of entanglement ofthe hose.

Brieliy stated. my invention resides in a hose supporting device comprising a frame provided with a spring for supporting the folds oi the hose.

More 'speciiically, the vhose supporting device forming the subject matter of my invention cornprises a frame provided with a-flat spring forming a series Vof joined or continuous sigmoids which is adapted to slide in and be supported in .a horizontal place by grooves provided in the inner side of the arms of the frame, said spring being adapted to receive and support the folds The open ends of the sigmoids forming the at spring are narrow in comparison with the loops or closed ends so that a fold of hose may be inserted in the open end and be extended into the loops. The folds may thus be supported in the openings'of the spring by the tension of the spring at the narrow portion oi the openings. Means are provided on one end of the frame for locking the spring in the frame. f Also, means are provided on the frame for supporting the nozzle of the hose in anV upright position.

Other objects, advantages and features oi novelty and construction will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the acconmanyingv drawing forming part of the specication in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the hose rack showing the same as supporting the hose;

Fig. 2 is an end View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end View taken on line `3--3 of Fig.' 1;'

Fig; 4 is a plan view of the frameshowing the portion shown'in Fig. 1 by lines 4-4;

Fig. 5 'i's a plan View of the endoi-fthe frame with, however, the nozzle not being shown in the supporting jaws;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the spring for supporting the hose in the frame of the rack showing the shape of the spring when a fold of the hose is not placed therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference number Ill designates an outlet valve which. generally emerges from a wall of a building Where the re hose rack is positioned. This valve is used to control the flow of Water from the standpipe through a union or nipple I2. Nipple I2 passing through a hole I4 provided in the frame also supports a frame I5 and hose i6 which is in position as it Will be held by spring I'I when in place. The hose rack assembly is adapted to swing in a horizontal place about the nipple I2, being limited only in its movement by the walls adjacent -the rack. Hose I 6 .is `secured -to the nipple by .meansfof .a `coupling I18. AA nut Ml is threaded to one end of the nipple l2 and serves to support the frame I5. The frame is provided with a locking clip2 0 which serves to lock the spring in the frame.

Frame I 5 is preferably made in -tvvo parts, generally termed here as the nipple portion a and the spring retaining portion 15b. "The nipple portion of the frame is preferably made of cast iron, steel, bronze, etc. while the spring retaining zportion Izib :fis 4`preferably :stamped .from VAthin sheet metal into an elongated substantiallyv C shaped .channel-as shown in Fig. A2'rvviththe ends -2'I of the flanges @of the channel being bent inwardly :to rform `partial webs "2l, lThese partial webs provide the lower sides of grooves 22 andthe lower guides for :spring -I'.'| The upper sides of the :grooves 2.2eare1progvided .by spot :welding or ,other-wise :fastening to -the'inner `flanges of the channelLfram'e, .sections .ofrangles 23 Awhich ex- ;tend for substantially ythe entire length of the spring :retaining :portion .of the frame or .channel. Theseformithe:uppervgudes for spring I'I.

The Width I.of *.the grooves are generally slightly larger :than the 'thickness lfof ethe .hose :retaining springzelement `I-'I. vThe spring Aretaining portion .15517 ,is secured to .the nipple rportion .of the `frame .bymeansfof :rivets HicV .which may be provided ,across thetop and-along bothsides of the frame. AInstead-.ofaemployir,1g -rivets .tojoint both portions ofAtherame, .othermeansrgmay'gbe used such as bolts, "screws, or welding. 'The spring retaining portion I5b of the 1framezserves as Ya cover for the 'linen *hose when Pin place, preventing dust, dirt, moisture, etc. from :accumulating on the upper part '.of the folded/hose ithus :eliminating rottingv of thi'splortionof .the hose. y

'I-heelernent y|-.'I .is Aa yatzsprng having a series of joined orecontinuous sigmoids ,and `which :is 'supported between .the locking clip 20 land 4the in-nerjportion-ZA .of thefnipple -portion 15a Yof .the frame. The at sspring; is :adjustedtoslide injthe frame inthe grooves @22 which as described above, are provided on =theinneresurfaces ofneach .side of -the spring-retaining .portion 4.511 of .the frame. The spring -element ."If'I -is @of -such .length that When the hose isplaced init-hespaoesprovided by the joined .,sig-moids, .it `vvill fit :snugly between portion .24 and the locking clip 20. .In other words, when the spring is-placedrin therack without the hose, a sufcient amount of play is permitted'so that when :theiolds .of the hose'are securediin the open spaces of the spring, thus extending the lengthof the spring, the :assembly will rest between portionV v2li-:and clip l-2Il Without anyor .little play and gpreferably under a slight tension. Preferably, `none `of the Vvfolds of Ythe hose are placed in the end loops lornpen spaces of the .spring MIJ.

Referringeagain to the spring .I [,:as stated previously, -it .is shaped .into arseries of @joined .or continuous sigmoids, :these ormingenarrow -spaces I la and widespaces nl 13b for 4.the .insertion of rthe folds of the fhose. i 'Ifhe narrow portionsfof the joined .sigmoids :are v`adjacent vthe `:Wide Yporti-ons The insertion .of the yfolds y.of :the -h'ose is v`conof adjacent sigmoids. The width of the space I 'Ib is approximately` the same Width as the folds'of the hose while the Width of the fold of the space Ila is smaller than the width of the foldV of the hose s0 that a tension is caused to be placed on the fold when it is inserted in the opening. When the spring is in a contracted position, that is, when the hose is not retained by the spring, a pair of the joined sigmoids resem- .bles .the vertical .sectionof ...a :bottle .as shown in `Eig. f6. When the spring iis :extended fas when the hose is placed in the narrow openings of the spring, it assumes the shape as shown in Fig. 3. The extreme ends of the spring are preferably straight so that they may present straight bearing surfaces against the inner Wall 24 of the frame and the locking clip 20. The spring :may tbe .formed yby twisting round spring Wire into the shape described above.

At the top of the one end of the spring-re- -tainingzportionrof the :fra-me., I :have :provided a hose nozzle retainingfelement Whichigenerally .consists of .a r spring clip ff-.astened :to the top 10i .the frame .by means of .screws .26. The spring clip contains two Ajavvs :2l and 28 soxspaced zas .to ,retain fthe tconstricted .portion of thenozzle under a slight tension.

TheY looking .clip :20 pis-.afround spring :wirebent into .the .shape shown fin .Fig. 4. In general, it .consists of a U having the ends 20a. bent outwardly and lthe arms 1Gb extending linwardly. The bar 20c ofthe clip and .the ends .ZUaar-e substantiallir parallel. Thebarrwcisoiset downwardlyfrom the varms 20h-so as "toormfan-.a'butment .for the .straigrhtfextreme fend .of the fspring rI 'I .The foregoing :locking clip `may be described .as :a substantially U :shaped `saddle -,c1i -p. Eaeh side-of theiframesisrprovidedswith a drilled hole lZeef-:slightly larger'diameter'than ,the diameter .of the endsZa'fof `the lockingclip in order-to `receive itl-lese Iendspf the locking clip. The holes .are positioned 'above the groove ,22 and-,preferably in alignment with-tor .abOVethe upperzsur- 'face oftthe upperfg-uide 23. Toplacetheloc-king Vclip in :the frame, yit fis `.merely qnecessargyV to press the :arms V20h towardsseach other `until the rends Zafmaybe placed-:intheholes By releasingthe tension on l:the farms ;2Ub-.theclip=wilfl fbe .extended .toitsnormal-,position and thusbe reta-inedfin the holes. lIhe zlocki-ng .-clip is thus hinged ,in :the holes :29 Withits offset .'bar 2'0cbeing adapted to .be/moved in an aro limited only by fthe -web y'of .the channel. Y i

`In'operation, -inorder tomount the hosefin the rack, the spring is removed -frornwthe .frame .by

.merely raising=the -loolcingclipzclear of 'fthespring .IFI fand lthensl-iding lthe f-spri-ng out "of the iframe on grooves 22. The hose isthen folded andthe .top -end f of l each fold is .inserted 4into l the-narrow `openings -I Tarot-.the j oined .or pontinuousfsigmoids, starting preferably '-zwith' the vsecond opening .closest the end/.of .-thesprin'g lwhich whenplaced inthe frame abuts theinner Wall1'L1l-.o1-.tl1e` frame.

tinued until .they-enter -the V-vvide gportion l1I-'Ib of the .openingfl In'normal-.1:losition,the v:folds lof the-hose are -loentra-lly `spaced in :each opening.

Thus,-.-it -will be seen that in nnountingthe hoseY in Vthe spring, Yit Will-begnecessary to alternate .the insertion of the folds. Preferably the r11rst-;-open ing and last openings of the` spring l] dof-notrcon- .tainanyfold of hose. Whena-themoun-tingof lthe hoseon-thespring iseom-pleted, the assembly is slidjback into the frame -iuntilfthe .-.straight-end ottheispri-ng abuts the. inner wvall. 2li.` .The `locking clip 2li is then lowered so that the offset bar 20c of the locking clip extends below the straight end of the spring I1 allowing the flat spring to abut the cradle of the offset. The spring assembly containing the hose is thus locked in the frame. To lower the offset bar 200 of the clip below the straight end of the spring, it may be necessary to force the spring assembly against the inner wall 24 in order that lthe offset bar'may be forced over the end of the spring. This is not an objectionable feature since it is preferable to have a slight tension against the folds of the hose as it prevents the hose from easily falling from the spring.

After the locking clip is engaged, the hose coupling is screwed onto the nipple and the nozzle is then supported in the jaws 21 and 2B of the spring clip 25.

In the event of re or in other words, when it is desired to readily dismount the hose from the rack, the nozzle is removed from its supporting jaws and with the locking clip still in its locked position, it is merely necessary to pay the hose out by a slight downward pull on the hose. For the first two or three folds, it may be necessary to give the hose a slight extra pull downwardly as the tension of these folds is the greatest. After two or three of the folds have been dismounted, the removal of the remainder of the hose may be readily accomplished by merely pulling on the hose while walking to the point of use.

Due to the tension placed on the folds by the spring, it is possible to turn the water on before the hose is withdrawn from the rack. The tension of the spring pinches the upper ends of the folds to such an extent that it is impossible to cause water to pass through the hose until the very last fold is removed from the spring. This is a desirable advantage over racks heretofore employed where the folds are supported by pins since in such cases, it is necessary to pay out the hose iirst before turning on the water, otherwise the hose will become entangled and may fly out of the rack toward the operator;

From the above, it will be seen that I have provided a hose rack which is simple in construc tion, which may be manufactured at low cost, and on which the hose may be easily mounted or removed.

The foregoing description of my invention is merely exemplary of one modification of my invention and is not to be considered as limiting since obviously many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a hose rack comprising a frame, a horizontal groove on each arm of said frame, a fiat spring shaped into a series of joined sigmoids, said joined sigmoids forming alternating openings into which the folds of hose may be inserted, said openings being narrow at one end and wider at the other end and said spring being adapted to slide in and be supported by the horizontal grooves in the arms of said frame, means on said frame for locking the spring in said grooves, an improvement in said means for locking said spring which consists of a substantially U shaped saddle clip.

2. In a hose rack comprising a substantially C shaped frame, a horizontal groove on the inside surface of each arm of said framefa iiat spring formed into a plurality of joined sigmoids, a pair of such joined sigmoids having a narrow opening extending into a larger closed space, said opening and space being adapted to receive a fold of hose, said entire spring being sufficiently resilient to permit the folds of hose to be placed in said openings and to place a tension on the folds of the hose and said spring being adapted to slide in said grooves of said frameand be supported in a horizontal plane thereby, and means for locking said spring on said frame, an improvement in said means for locking said spring which consists of a wire bent into a U having its ends bent outwardly to be received in holes on each flange of said frame and having the bar of the U offset downwardly to form a cradle for the end of said at spring.

3. In a hose rack comprising a nat spring, a frame, one end of said framebeing a channel having partial webs extending inwardly parallel to the web of said channel and forming a rest for said flat spring, angles on the .inner side of each flange of said channel and having one side of said angles positioned above said inwardly extending partial webs to form grooves for said flat spring, said at spring being formed into a plurality of joined sigmoidsa pair of such joined sigmoids having a narrow opening extending into a larger closed space, said opening and space being adapted to receive a fold of hose, said entire spring being sufficiently resilient to permit the folds of hose to be placed in said openings and to place a tension on the folds of the hose and said spring being adapted to slide in said grooves of said frame and be supported in a horizontal plane thereby, and means for locking said spring on said frame, an improvement in said means for locking said springV which consists of a wire bent into a U having its ends bent outwardly to be received in holes on each flange of said frame and having the bar of the U offset downwardly to form a cradle for the end of said flat spring.

JOHN N, SCHICHTEL. 

